Arg. I have had a severe case of writer's block but that's what you care about do you? You just want to read the story. Sniffles… Sniffly-diffly-doo.
DISCLAIMER:I don't own Pokemon
CLAIMER:I own this
Moonlight's Shadow
Chapter 6: Temporarily Owned
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Next Morning- Koja
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Koja groaned and rolled over as much as he could in the confined sleeping space of the trashcan. How he ever managed to empty that trashcan was still a mystery to him. Tumbling out in a clumsy heap, the Absol stretched and rubbed his eyes. Blasted sunlight. Why did it have to shine so bright? Muttering a curse, Koja sleepily looked around the alley. You could describe it as clean-free with all the grime that seemed to be everywhere.
Though most humans liked to believe in a clean and pretty world, they were all hypocrites. The state of the alleyway wasn't even able to compare with the wild beauty of the wilds. He didn't see why the humans had to ruin the world by deciding to make the skies black with smoke, killing Pokemon, and destroying the anything beautiful in the world by somehow making it pretty by the human standards.
Sighing, Koja reverted back to the real word and out of his thoughts. Glancing at a puddle of murky water in the drain, Koja winced as he saw the reflection of him in the brown water.
Bits of food stuck to his fur in different places and his fur was brown- not white but brown. Using the reflection as a crude mirror the Absol proceeded to quickly tidy up his appearance. He wasn't a stickler for cleanliness but on the other hand he didn't want to look as revolting as he did now. But however he tried after removing the food on him, Koja couldn't get rid of his brown fur and dirt that clung to him. OR that smell that seemed to come from his fur.
Shadow… Where was she...? Suddenly, he remembered. With an extremely slow turn of his head, Koja stared at a door. The door which Shadow had entered last night and had since then had never been seen. Walking up to the door, he leapt up and smacked a small button on the wall with his right paw. Whether, it was by some type of psychic power or human contraption, whenever a button like that was pressed, a door normally opened.
Using that theory, Koja sat down and waited for the door to open. His ears picked up the faint sound of chimes. But he ignored that- it was probably his imagination. But then why did his imagination always conjure the sound of chimes every time he pressed buttons like these? But Koja decided to ignore that and had a new train of thought concerning Shadow.
He definitely had to get that Umbreon out now, before that human fully bewitched her.
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Next Morning- Somewhere Else
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The morning sun rose higher and higher, causing the shadows on the rocks to disappear. A young Spheal was lying on the rocks, drinking in the heat. The rocks were huge; you could almost consider them an island. But something disturbed the peaceful silence- for a split second. For a split second, you could hear a rock cracking open then closing back together again. But of course the Spheal who barely noticed it soon forgot about it other then the fact that he somehow received an…electric shock- while he was in the middle of the ocean. But the Spheal ignored that and continued to bask in the sun.
But if the Spheal had been more curious and gone to investigate the rock where he had heard it cracking and closing back together again, he would've found a thin crack. And if the Spheal decided to be really curious and peeked inside he would've fainted. But if the Spheal had not fainted he would see this before him.
Even in a rock this large, you just wouldn't. You just wouldn't expect to see the Elemental Gods huddled inside. In some type of sense, it didn't make sense. You would've expected that with such great powers coming in exceedingly close proximity with each other that the rock would blow up. But the rock didn't blow up for some reason.
But the Gods and Goddess inside were not pondering that matter. They pondered another matter.
"You are finally here brother. What took you?" the Lord of Flames, Moltres asked. The voice sounded impatiently, nearly irritated.
"Raikou was fast- very fast. And he didn't stop to talk."
"What did you find out?" the voice of Articuno softly echoed around the rock walls.
"Nothing. Other then shifty things going on under our beaks."
"That means that Raikou is paranoid. And if you believe him too, you are also paranoid…" retorted Moltres.
"You may be wrong. I too have felt a strange feeling…" Articuno trailed off as if trying to put words together, "That what I see isn't what is really happening. It's like a black mask is covering our eyes."
Zapdos nodded in agreement, "Similar to my feelings."
"Paranoid! You're both paranoid after that miss-evulotion with that Evee! If you both have this strange feeling…" Moltres snorted, "Then why have not I felt it?"
"Maybe you are blind and unobservant to it brother." supplied Zapdos all too helpfully.
"I am probably more observant then both of you put together."
"Maybe so…" intervened Articuno hastily, "But Moltres- you or we may be right or wrong. But since a few other gods think similar to us, why not humor us and spend a little time into this matter?"
"A little time?" the God of Fire retorted, "It will take eternity. For many deities, this is the busiest time of the year. We have our commitments! I have my commitments. You can't just go through heaven and hell for one creature sister! Be sensible."
"Then how about all our unanswered questions?" challenged Zapdos, "Can you answer them?"
"No I cannot," replied Moltres hotly, "But who knows everything in this world? No one."
There was silence then. But not for long.
"All right, I will do it! I'll help you search into this matter." Said the Fire Deity, exasperated, "And in the end I'll prove that all this is really just paranoia."
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Next Morning- Shadow
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Rousing from her slumber and opening her eyes, Shadow suddenly bolted up in fright. Where was she? What was she standing on? So soft… so comfortable… The Umbreon lay down again and snuggled into the blankets as she remembered.
She was in the human's den. The human, opposite of what Koja had told her, had not bewitched her but welcomed her with open arms. For the first time in her life, the Umbreon had experienced a huge amount of care and love. Not that she hadn't experienced love and care- if she hadn't even had an inkling of love and care from Akara, Winterchill, and other members of her old pack she'd probably be some kind of clam.
But that didn't still stop the new feeling she had- a somewhat shock and awe that someone would actually want to groom her, feed her, give her access to the best places in the den, and not expect anything in return. Shadow gazed quietly at the human who was sleeping in a rocking chair nearby.
The fire in the fireplace had been long ago reduced to ash and the morning sun pouring through the window was the only source of warmth- which was actually pretty warm. The human who had somehow shown this much affection to Shadow seemed to be old…
Very old. The human had grey-whitish hair that was coiled up into some sort of bun and had wrinkles. Many wrinkles. The last thing noticeable or even rather weird and uncanny was the thing that seemed to cover most of the human's body.
It was blue in color with white frills on the edges. The Umbreon was trying to discern whether the thing was actually the human's fur or some type of skin mutation. Best not to think about it. Shadow shuddered and turned her attention back to-
Some type of chimes? The black furred Pokemon glanced at the direction from which the sound came from. The human apparently had heard the chimes too and had woken up with a jump.
Almost running to the door, the human opened it a crack and peeked out suspiciously. What kind of person or thing called in at around 10 am? But then maybe that was one of her eccentrics.
"Eh?" the human fully opened the door, letting Shadow see the visitor. It was a very, very filthy, disgusting, odorous, repulsive Absol. The Umbreon held her breath and took a step back.
Close the door! That was probably the thought that both creatures had when they saw and smelled the sight. The human was actually closing the thick wooden door when… The Absol stuck his head out indignantly and half rammed the door open again.
"Excuse me?"
There was something so very familiar about that voice… Shadow cringed visibly. It was Koja. Except is just couldn't possibly be Koja… But it was.
"Hi…" droned Shadow very unenthusiastically.
What happened to him? His fur wasn't even white! Shadow looked up at the human who was standing frozen. She appeared to be having a battle inside her head on whether to shut the dirt-ridden Pokemon out or let him in.
"Hurry up Shadow! Before she closes the door again. Don't just stand there?"
"Um... Koja, I've got no idea what you're talking about. From what I gather, I spent one night with her, while you spent one night in the streets, and guess who turns out better?"
Shadow gazed pointedly at the Absol. He scowled.
"Well, at least I'm not brain washed! She's already led you into believing that she's good!"
"What?"
"Just get out of there! In all frankness Shadow, humans are a disgusting race that should be wiped of the face of this world by the Gods."
The Umbreon stood there, frozen, like the human, having a battle in her head. Trust Koja or the human? She'd known the Absol for longer but what he'd just said seemed like complete and utter nonsense.
But she didn't have to decide because the human did. With a small smile, the lady pushed the Absol in with a flick in her hand and closed the door. Unfortunately, Koja took this the wrong way and went running helter-skelter.
"Now we're trapped in here!" Koja cursed with a mixture of anger and fear, "Didn't you hear me?"
Shadow looked shocked at her travel companion. She had no idea he had THIS type of paranoia. It was worse then hers. WAY worse. What happened to the more dignified, knowledgeable, and half-respectable Koja that she knew?
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"NOOOOOOOO! Keep that infernal thing off of me human! OFF!"
Koja was wildly struggling against the human, the elderly lady grimly scrubbing Koja. Water from the small bath that the Absol was in splashed onto Shadow who was standing nearby.
"Just stay still will you?" The old lady attacked Koja with a soap bar.
Shadow sighed as she surveyed the room. Somehow, she had managed to trap Koja after he ran helter-skelter everywhere and forced him into a bath. All that resulted with the Absol kicking and shouting.
Seriously. What was up with him? Shadow shook her head sadly and surveyed the disaster the Absol had made when he had first entered the house. Thanks to Koja running amok and being terrified there were muddy paw prints everywhere, food and filth on the furniture, and this strange type of smell. Disaster. Shadow allowed herself a small chuckle.
It was well known that Absols were the 'disaster Pokemon'. Why? Few knew. Some said they caused disasters, others said they came warning people of a disaster. Disaster…Shadow froze. She would've brought the disaster…
After all, so many in her old pack said she was a curse… She had to be the one. The curse. Right? That's why she was exiled, shunned, the runt of the pack… It seemed so right but somehow at the same time so dreadfully wrong.
"Finally!"
Shadow snapped her head to the direction of the voice. Koja had jumped out of the bath gladly. He was no more or less clean but he still seemed to be in some sort of frenzy. The human didn't help either.
The human was brandishing a towel in her hand and running after the Absol- who was of course once again running helter-skelter.
"We need OUT Shadow!" demanded Koja, "Where's the exit? Oh wait there it-"
The Absol tripped over a bar of soap near the bath, and skidded all the way to the front door. But at this exact moment, the door opened and Koja was knocked his head on the wall and fell unconscious.
The person who had opened the door looked very disturbed.
"Not again Grandma…." The human groaned, shutting the door with a small slam, "Look! You don't have to exactly bring in every single stray Pokemon out there!"
The newcomer was definitely human and female with light brown hair coming from the human's head. The hair was tied into a ponytail and a belt hung around the human's waist with several red and white spheres attached to it. The human was also wearing a backpack and a houndour was sitting beside her.
Shadow cocked her head. What was wrong with the Pokemon? The houndour was sitting besides the human looking very faithful though a bit disturbed to find a strange Absol right in front of him unconscious. The houndour was faithful- too faithful. HE was even older then her- 3 years? 2 and a half years? Disgraceful for him to behave like that.
The old lady, who was apparently this new human's grandmother, gave a sniffle.
"I just couldn't very well leave them out there in the cold could I?" demanded the woman, "Besides it was only one. That Absol came this morning."
"Grandma! The last time I saw you there was a huge infestation of Rattatas in this house!"
"Lower your voice Sami. And it was not for goodness sakes an infestation of Rattatas. Infestation my word!"
"Seemed like it…" muttered Sami.
The human sighed as she surveyed the damage. Rushing madly everywhere, the teenager sped everywhere in a rush, righting furniture, scrubbing furiously at mud and food stains, chucking cushions to their proper positions, poking Koja in an effort to wake him up and doing numerous other things that fell into the category of cleaning- or maybe insanity would be closer.
"Samantha Susan Atwane!" the words though not shouted were spoken with considerable force and loudness.
Sami skidded to a halt, Koja dangling in her arms.
"Put that poor Absol down and please! Behave yourself!" ordered the lady.
A soft thump was heard as Koja was dropped to the ground and woken up.
"Ow… What in the-" The Absol jumped up and tensed, ready for battle upon seeing the houndour.
The houndour as if in a reply growled, brandished his teeth and stepped towards Koja.
"You might not last long-" The houndour grinned, "kid."
"We'll just see about that." Muttered Koja.
Shadow shook her head, quite confused. There was one Koja absolutely paranoid and frenzied. Another Koja was the cool and more dignified one… Which was up with him? In an instant, Shadow felt herself zap out and in of her earthly world. She ended up between the two baring and snapping Pokemon.
"Please! Stop will you! The fight will be meaningless."
Shadow fixed her cold blue eyes on both of them, causing the predicted effect. Two Pokemon standing stock still as if she had frozen them.
"Oi! You!"
Sami waved her hand at Shadow and cocked her head down low enough so that human and Umbreon faced eye to eye. Immediately the teen saw why her houndour was standing so still.
"Ah- cut it out?"
"Oh! Sorry!" Shadow averted her eyes quickly.
"So…." Sami's Grandmother, aka the human who gave Shadow a home for a night, sighed, "What ARE you doing here? Aren't you a day early?"
"Yeah I know, but I wanted to see my grandma sooo much I came a day early!" Sami grinned and tried to look truthful and angelic. Sadly it didn't work.
"Seriously."
"Ok, ok! I'm here mainly to get the Marsh Badge. I also heard that there a great Pokemon around this area. Good against Psychic Pokemon like the ones the Gymleader has. But…"
Sami looked hopefully at Shadow and Koja. Koja glared, growled and snapped at her. Shadow had no idea whatsoever of what the human was talking about.
"Ask them, not me. Do your funny thing with understanding Pokespeech." Said her grandmother shrugging.
"I suppose… So ah-"
The human massaged her eyebrow trying to figure out how to start. Fortunately the houndour did it for her.
"Hello… This very obscure and strange human-" which at this point the houndour received a swat on his head but it did not deter him, "As I was saying this obscure and strange human would like you to fight for her. This is a perfect way to repay the old woman who so kindly gave you shelter and food for a night."
The houndour's voice was lazy and bored as he added, "That same human also knows Pokespeech because she learned it from a Slowking up in the mountains. You were probably going to ask that weren't you? And my name's Inferno if you didn't want or wanted to know."
After that, Inferno trotted off to a couch and flopped down on it, watching the rest with one eye open.
"Right. Thank you very much for trying to endanger our lives but I think we would both go right now." Koja's voice was laced with sarcasm and he narrowed his eyes.
Shadow blinked. This was starting to get very strange. She didn't feel very endangered right now…
"What?" exclaimed Sami, "How am I endangering you? I am simply offering you a chance to repay your debt to my grandmother."
"I don't owe anything to you." Koja said coolly.
"I'm in debt. So I'll go with you even though I don't understand much of what I'm meant to do."
Shadow shrugged. The trainer seemed trustworthy enough, and at the moment, Koja's opinion on anything was too strange and weird for her to agree.
"Shadow. We are not going to go with this…hag." The words were said slowly and forcefully.
"What. Did. You. Just. Say!" Sami's words were said just as slowly and forcefully but a lot less calmly.
"Hag. You are a hag. Shadow get out. That hag standing there is going to put you inside a ball, torture you, work you from sunup to sundown, and basically make you wish you never were alive."
This was new. But then, quite a lot of times in her live did Shadow feel that she wished she was never alive. She was a curse. No denying it. But Koja's words… They echoed through her mind.
"Run Shadow. Now. We have to go."
"WHAT IN THE FU-"
The trainer paused.
"Language. Can't have that word. Now where were we? Oh yeah. I am completely at a loss at what you're saying but I don't care. If you come and fight one battle for me I will teach you something very useful."
The Absol's ears perked up.
"Humans cannot be trusted." The words sounded practiced, memorized.
"Humans can be trusted. How am I going to torture you if I don't put you in a Pokeball? I can't. Look…It's really pretty!"
The human held out a small metallic blue box, trying to look invitive. Koja snorted though Shadow saw his eyes glance quickly, almost hungrily at the box before turning away.
"It's a square blue object. How is that pretty? But…I'll…I'll do it."
"Great, come here."
"What IS that…?"
How was it that that small blue thing convinced Koja to help?
"It's a TM. Technical Machine." Inferno's eyes gazed longingly at the box, "It's a learning contraption basically. You can learn different abilities and powers from those boxes. They're extremely powerful…"
Koja gingerly stepped forward and stood warily in front t of the red-haired human.
"Aerial Ace. Here we go…"
Opening the case, a shimmery blue light seemed to fall out of it and sink into Koja's horn.
"That's… It?" The Umbreon shook her head. Humans were strange. Very strange.
"You call this it?"
In a matter of milliseconds the Absol had swooped into the air and came down on Shadow so that now, he was kind of… Standing on Shadow.
"Oh…" The Umbreon pushed her companion off and stood up.
"Teatime!" Sami's Grandmother bustled in with a tray of cookies on a plate, "Since I couldn't understand this whole funny conversation I took the liberty of getting this ready!"
Sami's face lit up.
"Grandma! You actually learned to bake! And you're cookies actually taste good!"
Shadow swiped one off the plate and tossed it into her mouth. Immediately she understood why Inferno was cramming 2 in his mouth. They were a slice of heaven. It was this sweet sticky substance in it…
"I haven't had chocolate in AGES!" mumbled Koja as he sank his teeth into one.
Chocolate. Delicious. And the Umbreon took another cookie.
"Oh. Grandma…"
"Yes Dearie?" The woman untied her apron strings and tossed onto a chair.
"What are these black…things doing on the plate?"
Sami's smiled faltered as the teenager gestured to black round objects sitting on the plate.
"That's my baking dear! Don't you like them? The others are store bought. Tastes like rubbish compared to my ones don't you think?"
"Inferno will agree with you Grandma. He always liked Lava Cookies. Yours is just a more…burnt version of it."
Sami sighed as she chucked on of the black objects to Inferno. Surveying some of the mess that had still remained in the living room she suddenly glared at Shadow and Koja.
"So…Which one of you two did this…Disaster?"
Wheee... All done. I have a feeling that with all this editing business going on that my chapters are somehow getting longer. Oh well. It's for the better.
-StarDragon X